vcc.ca
DCOM 1110: Design Foundation for Marketing
Effective date
May 2026
Department
Visual Comm Design Diploma
School
Trades, Technology and Design
Description
This course introduces the foundational principles of design for marketers and content creators, focusing on how visual communication can enhance branding, storytelling, and user engagement. Students will explore core design concepts such as composition, colour theory, typography, and layout, with an emphasis on applying these skills to real-world marketing and content creation projects. Using industry-standard tools, students will create visually compelling assets optimized for digital platforms, social media, and print. The course highlights the importance of strategic visual design in communicating brand identity and achieving marketing objectives.
Credits
3.0
Year of study
1st Year Post-secondary
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Course Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Explain foundational design principles and their role in effective marketing and content creation.
- Apply colour theory and typography to create visually cohesive and impactful designs.
- Design layouts and compositions that effectively communicate messages across digital and print media.
- Create basic visual branding elements and ensure consistency across various platforms.
- Utilize industry-standard design tools to produce content tailored for marketing and social media platforms.
- Develop strategic visual assets that align with audience needs and marketing goals.
- Critically evaluate the effectiveness of visual content in achieving branding and marketing objectives.
Prior Learning Assessment & Recognition (PLAR)
None
Hours
Lecture, Online, Seminar, Tutorial: 42
Practicum, Self-Paced, Individual Learning: 12
Total Hours: 54
Practicum, Self-Paced, Individual Learning: 12
Total Hours: 54
Instructional Strategies
A combination of lecture, demonstration, production simulations, problem solving, practical labs and reflective discussion will be used throughout this course.
Grading System
Letter Grade (A-F)
Passing grade
C
Evaluation Plan
|
Type |
Percentage |
Assessment activity |
|
Participation |
10 |
|
|
Lab Work |
30 |
|
|
Project |
30 |
May include in-class exercises, assignments, quizzes/tests, and work-in progress |
|
Assignments |
30 |
|
Course topics
- Foundational design principles
- Colour theory and psychology for branding
- Typography basics: font selection, hierarchy, readability
- Composition and layout for digital and print
- Visual branding: logos, style guides, consistency
- Industry-standard design tools
- Content creation for social media, ads, and infographics
- Strategic visual storytelling
- Critiquing and evaluating design effectiveness
Notes:
- Course contents and descriptions, offerings and schedules are subject to change without notice.
- Students are required to follow all College policies including ones that govern their educational experience at VCC. Policies are available on the VCC website at:
https://www.vcc.ca/about/governance--policies/policies/. - To find out if there are existing transfer agreements for this course, visit the BC Transfer Guide at https://www.bctransferguide.ca.